USA hold Scotland to a draw

Scotland 1 USA 1

Scotlad’s miserable home record continued as they were held to an uninspiring 1-1 draw by under-strength USA at Hampden Park.

Walter Smith was looking to maintain the momentum of the fine 3-0 World Cup qualifying win in Slovenia last month.

But, at Hampden, where the Scots had dropped 10 points in their qualifying campaign for Germany 2006 and failed to win a friendly since 1996, the Scots were second best to the Americans.

The national boss and the 26,708 crowd learned very little from a game which saw Andy Webster’s header cancel out Josh Wolff’s early penalty.

Smith without Kenny Miller and dropped James McFadden to the bench, much to his disapproval after his stunning strike in Slovenia, for Neil McCann and Garry O’Connor.

The Americans were without a clutch of top players, are ranked seventh in the world and looked to be in a class of their own from the first whistle.

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon got an early touch when Wolff tried his luck from 25 yards, but the Hearts man comfortably saved his weak right-foot effort.

Gordon had another test in the sixth minute when Steve Cherundolo let fly with a long-range free-kick, but, despite the ball bouncing in front of him, he made the save look so easy.

However, the Americans ripped apart the Scottish defence in the eighth minute when Wolff slid the ball through to DaMarcus Beasley, but his heels were clipped by Christian Dailly in the box.

Referee Alberto Undiano pointed to the spot and flashed a yellow card to the relief of the West Ham man, who could have received a red.

But Wolff punished the home side by finding the bottom-left corner.

The Americans looked well in control and Graham Alexander was fortunate not to follow the skipper into the book after clumsily cutting down Cherundolo in the 13th minute.

The right-back was upended by the Preston defender on the edge of the area, two minutes later, but the referee was lenient again – only awarding a free-kick.

Gregg Berhalter curled a left-foot shot towards the far bottom corner, but Gordon kept his team-mates in the game by getting his right hand down to turn it around the post.

Another frustrating Scottish attack was broken down again in the 28th minute and the Americans burst forward with pace only for Beasley to cut inside and blaze well wide.

But the home side were lucky to find themselves on level terms in the 37th minute when Webster won his tussle with Zavagnin and headed Alexander’s free-kick past Kasey Keller from close range.

That lifted the Scots, who again threatened moments later when O’Connor headed McCann’s cross past the angle from a difficult position in the box.

America responded by going close themselves when Wolff fired just past the upright from Brain Ching’s cut-back.

Both sides made changes at the break with Steven and Gary Caldwell coming on for Steven Pressley and David Weir – becoming the first brothers to play together for Scotland since 1946.

USA coach Bruce Arena brought on Benjamin Olsen and Santino uaranta on for Eddie Gavin and Zavagnin.

But it was a surprise to see Dailly still operating as wing-back with O’Connor isolated on his own up front.

Gary Caldwell almost gifted the American’s a goal in the 52nd minute when Beasley seized on his loose pass but his brother saved his blushes with a vital challenge.

Arena made another change with Wolff being replaced by debutante Christopher Rolfe after Beasley had wasted a glorious chance to put his ahead from Olsen’s pass.

Smith brought on McFadden for McCann after Gary Caldwell had been booked.

He then made a double change by bringing on in-form duo Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown for Quashie and O’Connor but the changes disrupted the flow of the game.

Gary Caldwell had space in the 81st minute, but sent his right-foot shot flying over the crossbar from 23 yards.

Jonathan Spector also found himself well up field in the 88th minute but his awkward right-foot shot was pushed away by Gordon.

The Manchester United youngster made a great tackle on Brown in the final minute before the Hibernian man had, what could have been a dramatic winner, ruled out for offside.